Born in humble, rural surroundings in the Jackson Purchase, Barkley grew into a sturdy youth who received an education through parental sacrifices. He graduated from Marvin College as an ...
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Born in humble, rural surroundings in the Jackson Purchase, Barkley grew into a sturdy youth who received an education through parental sacrifices. He graduated from Marvin College as an award-winning speaker and soon moved with his parents to Paducah, where he read law and became an attorney. Barkley entered politics winning elections as county attorney and then county judge: he gained victory through his farmer constituents. In 1913 he moved from courthouse to Congress as a progressive who championed President Wilson’s New Freedom program. During World War I, he favored freedom of the seas to promote agricultural exports and gained national attention by advocating prohibition. In wartime he visited US soldiers on the front lines and in peacetime became a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, which enhanced his understanding of international relations. His only electoral loss occurred when he campaigned for governor, but his Kentucky canvass enabled him to win a US Senate seat in 1926. Furious over Republican administrations for their support of high tariffs that hurt agricultural exports and their inability to assist impoverished Americans during the Great Depression, Barkley became a strong supporter and national spokesman for the New Deal. World War II found Senate majority leader Barkley playing a key role in wartime legislation, but he lost favor with President Roosevelt by opposing the president’s expensive revenue bill of 1944. Meanwhile, the senator had maintained close and supportive relations with Truman and joined him as his vice presidential candidate on the 1948 presidential ticket. Barkley became the one and only Veep who turned the vice presidency into an important office. The Paducah politician failed to get his party’s nomination for president in 1952, so he temporarily retired, appearing on his own national television show, and preparing (with help) his autobiography. In 1954 he won election and returned to the US Senate as a junior member.Less

Alben Barkley : A Life in Politics

James K. Libbey

Published in print: 2016-03-15

Born in humble, rural surroundings in the Jackson Purchase, Barkley grew into a sturdy youth who received an education through parental sacrifices. He graduated from Marvin College as an award-winning speaker and soon moved with his parents to Paducah, where he read law and became an attorney. Barkley entered politics winning elections as county attorney and then county judge: he gained victory through his farmer constituents. In 1913 he moved from courthouse to Congress as a progressive who championed President Wilson’s New Freedom program. During World War I, he favored freedom of the seas to promote agricultural exports and gained national attention by advocating prohibition. In wartime he visited US soldiers on the front lines and in peacetime became a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, which enhanced his understanding of international relations. His only electoral loss occurred when he campaigned for governor, but his Kentucky canvass enabled him to win a US Senate seat in 1926. Furious over Republican administrations for their support of high tariffs that hurt agricultural exports and their inability to assist impoverished Americans during the Great Depression, Barkley became a strong supporter and national spokesman for the New Deal. World War II found Senate majority leader Barkley playing a key role in wartime legislation, but he lost favor with President Roosevelt by opposing the president’s expensive revenue bill of 1944. Meanwhile, the senator had maintained close and supportive relations with Truman and joined him as his vice presidential candidate on the 1948 presidential ticket. Barkley became the one and only Veep who turned the vice presidency into an important office. The Paducah politician failed to get his party’s nomination for president in 1952, so he temporarily retired, appearing on his own national television show, and preparing (with help) his autobiography. In 1954 he won election and returned to the US Senate as a junior member.

Barkley soon brought his family to join him in Washington, DC. He found a hero in Woodrow Wilson and supported the president’s progressive New Freedom. Barkley’s first House speech strongly supported ...
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Barkley soon brought his family to join him in Washington, DC. He found a hero in Woodrow Wilson and supported the president’s progressive New Freedom. Barkley’s first House speech strongly supported the Underwood Tariff. The speech contained elements common to many of his talks over a lifetime; he poked fun at the opposition, and he included one of his famous stories. His only committee assignment was the exclusive Interstate and Foreign Commerce. Early meetings between Barkley and the president concerned patronage issues. Along with the tariff, the Federal Reserve System, and the Federal Trade Commission, which Barkley helped prepare, the passage of the essential features of New Freedom reinforced for congressman and president the importance of party. Meanwhile, through press releases, mailings, and personal correspondence, Barkley kept in close contact with his constituents.Less

Congressman Barkley and the New Freedom

James K. Libbey

Published in print: 2016-03-15

Barkley soon brought his family to join him in Washington, DC. He found a hero in Woodrow Wilson and supported the president’s progressive New Freedom. Barkley’s first House speech strongly supported the Underwood Tariff. The speech contained elements common to many of his talks over a lifetime; he poked fun at the opposition, and he included one of his famous stories. His only committee assignment was the exclusive Interstate and Foreign Commerce. Early meetings between Barkley and the president concerned patronage issues. Along with the tariff, the Federal Reserve System, and the Federal Trade Commission, which Barkley helped prepare, the passage of the essential features of New Freedom reinforced for congressman and president the importance of party. Meanwhile, through press releases, mailings, and personal correspondence, Barkley kept in close contact with his constituents.

Wilson’s first year in the White House proved as successful as his governorship in enacting progressive reforms. By 1914, he had become one of the more successful presidents in American history ...
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Wilson’s first year in the White House proved as successful as his governorship in enacting progressive reforms. By 1914, he had become one of the more successful presidents in American history domestically. As his presidency unfolded he continued to transfer to the nation prerogatives formerly reserved for the church. America, in his view, became the central agent of righteousness in the world. But progressivism was primarily for whites. Race and, to a lesser extent, gender remained impervious to Wilsonian reform. After assuring African Americans of equal justice, Wilson oversaw and defended the segregation of several departments of the federal governments, much to the chagrin of African American leaders who had supported his election.Less

Wilson in the Nation’s Service

Barry Hankins

Published in print: 2016-06-01

Wilson’s first year in the White House proved as successful as his governorship in enacting progressive reforms. By 1914, he had become one of the more successful presidents in American history domestically. As his presidency unfolded he continued to transfer to the nation prerogatives formerly reserved for the church. America, in his view, became the central agent of righteousness in the world. But progressivism was primarily for whites. Race and, to a lesser extent, gender remained impervious to Wilsonian reform. After assuring African Americans of equal justice, Wilson oversaw and defended the segregation of several departments of the federal governments, much to the chagrin of African American leaders who had supported his election.

This chapter examines the Progressive era, which started from the 1890s and spanned the 1910s. One cannot make sense of this kaleidoscopic movement unless one incorporates the missing piece to ...
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This chapter examines the Progressive era, which started from the 1890s and spanned the 1910s. One cannot make sense of this kaleidoscopic movement unless one incorporates the missing piece to conventional accounts of it: the movement’s debt to Anti-Federalism. Both the Democratic and Republican parties could claim the Progressive mantra at the turn of the twentieth century because it was Federalism and Anti-Federalism in more perfect equipoise than possibly any other movement in American history. Although the historical consensus appears to be that the era is to be remembered by the fierce “New Nationalism” of Theodore Roosevelt, it is just as well, if not better, understood by the romantic idealism of Woodrow Wilson’s “New Freedom” and the philosophy and spirit of Anti-Federalism.Less

Anti-Federalism & the Progressive Creative Destruction1

Elvin T. Lim

Published in print: 2014-08-07

This chapter examines the Progressive era, which started from the 1890s and spanned the 1910s. One cannot make sense of this kaleidoscopic movement unless one incorporates the missing piece to conventional accounts of it: the movement’s debt to Anti-Federalism. Both the Democratic and Republican parties could claim the Progressive mantra at the turn of the twentieth century because it was Federalism and Anti-Federalism in more perfect equipoise than possibly any other movement in American history. Although the historical consensus appears to be that the era is to be remembered by the fierce “New Nationalism” of Theodore Roosevelt, it is just as well, if not better, understood by the romantic idealism of Woodrow Wilson’s “New Freedom” and the philosophy and spirit of Anti-Federalism.

This chapter discusses the importance of clinical outcome data in improving the quality of care for those struggling with serious mental illness so that they can have a life of recovery in their home ...
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This chapter discusses the importance of clinical outcome data in improving the quality of care for those struggling with serious mental illness so that they can have a life of recovery in their home community. It first provides an overview of clinical outcome data and clinical outcome research before emphasizing the importance of outcome-oriented and evidence-based practice in the field of mental health, along with the reasons why providers are reluctant to use outcome measures. It then evaluates Virginia's outcome-oriented pilot project called the Performance Outcomes Measurement System, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's national outcome measures for mental health services, and the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health's identification of major problems in the mental health service system and potential solutions. It concludes by presenting recommendations aimed at transforming America's mental health service system.Less

That Which Is Measured Improves

Timothy A. Kelly

Published in print: 2009-08-01

This chapter discusses the importance of clinical outcome data in improving the quality of care for those struggling with serious mental illness so that they can have a life of recovery in their home community. It first provides an overview of clinical outcome data and clinical outcome research before emphasizing the importance of outcome-oriented and evidence-based practice in the field of mental health, along with the reasons why providers are reluctant to use outcome measures. It then evaluates Virginia's outcome-oriented pilot project called the Performance Outcomes Measurement System, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's national outcome measures for mental health services, and the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health's identification of major problems in the mental health service system and potential solutions. It concludes by presenting recommendations aimed at transforming America's mental health service system.